MEDIA RELEASE
Embargo: 6.00 am, Sunday September 12, 1999
ACTION AT MILITARY TRAINING FACILITY
CANUNGRA, QUEENSLAND
Arm the East Timorese, not Indonesia
Supporters of East Timor Independence will take their protest directly
to the Australian defence force today, calling for the redirection of
Australia's military aid away from Indonesia and to the East Timorese
resistance.
The protesters plan an invasion of the Australian Defence Force's Land
Warfare Training Center at Canungra on Queensland's Gold coast (12 noon,
Sunday, September 12, 1999). The protest will emphasise the importance
of immediate suspension of military aid to the Indonesian military and
the need for immediate air drops of supplies and weapons to the East
Timorese resistance.
Australia's training and support of Indonesian military - the Defence
Cooperation Program - is budgeted for $7.2 million this year, with over
200 Indonesian soldiers scheduled for training. Ten Indonesian military
personnel are currently in Australia, despite the Howard government's
suspension of some military cooperation.
The East Timorese resistance, Falintil, has called for an airlift
directly into the hills of East Timor to relieve tens of thousands of
refugees facing starvation and death.
Damien Lawson, spokesperson for the protest said today,
"Even if a peacekeeping force leaves in 48 hours it will be too late for
thousands of Timorese in the hills of East Timor. They need immediate
support now. Why can't the Australian Defence Force conduct airlifts of
supplies and weapons now?"
"Australia's defence cooperation program should be with the East
Timorese resistance not the Indonesian military who continue to remain
in Australia and receive training. The resources spent on such training
should immediately be redirected to the support of Falintil who are the
only force currently defending the Timorese people."
For more information and comment:
Damien Lawson
0408 246 444 or 3391 7026
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